How to Succeed While
At Your Internship
1.
Always arrive 10 to 15 minutes early – being at work at 9 a.m. means being at your desk and settled
in by 9 a.m. Further, do not have your coat on at 5 p.m.
2.
Never miss work unless absolutely necessary! Look at an internship as your job. If you must miss a
day of work, call in well in advance. Don’t call in that day.
3.
Always dress professionally – not just for the interview. People notice a polished, put-together
employee.
4.
Before you start a position, sit down and speak with the department manager or personnel and find
out how they would like the phones answered and the correct pronunciations of the company
and company personnel. Make sure you know how to transfer calls and contact people by intercom
before you answer the phones.
5.
Keep a notepad with you. You are new to the job and are not expected to remember everything.
You will look organized and efficient, both prized business qualities, if you refer to your notes before
asking your manager how to do something that was previously explained.
6.
Do not appear lazy. If you do not have any immediate tasks to perform, find something
constructive to do. Either straighten out the files, rearrange storage areas or take inventory of
supplies. Ask a manager or supervisor if you can assist them with anything. INITIATIVE IS
ALWAYS APPRECIATED AND NOTICED.
7.
Do not refuse a job or assignment because it is “secretarial” or “clerical” in nature. A job will
expand to suit the experience and prowess of the worker. Your responsibilities will increase as you
prove your capability. Do not believe a job is beneath your talents.
8.
Be sure that when you are working on a letter, memo, project or document, you have proofread and
spell-checked the document before showing it to a manager/supervisor. Sloppy work is a reflection
on you. Remember: no letter or document should be sent out without a copy being made for office
files or without manager review.
9.
Turn of the cell phone and leave it at your desk or in a safe location. Nothing irritates an employer
more than a distracted employee.
9.
Feel free to ask questions. Every question is significant. A manager would rather have the work
done correctly the first time than have to take the time to do it over again.
10.
Understand that at times all managers/supervisors are under extreme pressure and may not address
you in the manner in which you deserve. Do not take what was said to heart. Comments are often
misdirected.
11.
Do not call in sick during your first three months of employment. Be careful not to abuse a
company’s sick day policy. Do not schedule a doctor’s appointment during the day. If you must,
make sure it is in the early morning or late afternoon, and ask your supervisor if it’s OK prior to
making the appointment. Offer to make the time up.
12.
Do not read a magazine at work, do your homework, e-mail your friends, play games on the
computer or use the telephone for personal calls. If your manager tells you it is slow and you can do
your homework, make sure you have exhausted all appeals to help out in other areas. Remember
your manager may have OK’d it for that day only. Do not make a habit of it without management
approval. Conversely, many employees will tell you it is ok to play around on the computer or use
the phone. You are new and being judged very differently from them. Look around – the most
successful employees are using their time constructively – they are not hanging out or playing with
the computer.
13.
Do not abuse a break or your lunch hour. Do not take a full hour during your first three months.
Most managers do not take a full hour for lunch and rarely take breaks. If you eat lunch at your
desk, make sure you get approval from your immediate boss.
14.
Efficient organization of your workspace is a necessary time management tool. You can tell a great
deal about the occupant of an office from the arrangement of items on the desk, the use of color
and the general level of neatness. Superiors, colleagues and subordinates alike will form their first
impressions of you from the state of your workplace – so ensure that the impression you give is
professional and positive.